Last year at this same time, we were experiencing the harsh effects of the economic downturn.  Many of you were losing your jobs, getting pay cuts, or receiving dramatically less from retirement savings.  In spite of this, we asked you to sacrifice for your parish and diocese. You responded inspirationally by placing your trust in God and affirming your deep commitment to Christ’s Mission lived out in the Church.  Thank you.

Sad to say, economic conditions for all of us are still most difficult.  It is because I know you are aware that our work as Catholics must continue through the Church that I ask you again to entertain our request for your help.

This year’s theme emphasizes the common call of all baptized Catholics, and the essential role of the ordained ministry. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the bond between all baptized and the ordained as:

The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet and king….While the common priesthood of all faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace – a life of faith, hope and charity… the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood… The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church (paragraphs 1546-1547).

In his Letter proclaiming the Year for Priests, Pope Benedict connects with this truth cited above by stating,

Priests and laity together make up the one priestly people [cf. Lumen Gentium, 10] and in virtue of their ministry, priests live in the midst of the lay faithful, “that they may lead everyone to the unity of charity, `loving one another with mutual affection; and outdoing one another in sharing honor.”’ (Rom 12:10) (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 9)

What do these profound truths of our faith have to do with our efforts to invite your support of diocesan ministries through your gifts of time, talent and treasure?  Simply put, a reason for having diocesan ministries is to achieve more fully this ideal of the “unity of charity.”  For example, this happens when our diocesan:

• Vicar for Clergy and Religious assists our priests in the variety of their ministries with their on-going education, personal and professional development, and spiritual growth;
• Campus Ministry helps college students to grow in faith and Church leadership;
• Catholic Charities staff bring assistance and compassion to those in need; and
• Lay Parish Pastoral Leaders, under the leadership of their pastor, work closely with diocesan offices and committees such as Ministry Formation, Stewardship, Evangelization, to name a few.

By our striving to live out the ideals of our baptism and those of the ordained, may we give witness to our “unity in charity, loving one another with mutual affection” so that those who have wandered from  our faith community may find in our Christian witness the inspiration for them to return to active participation.

While the economic situation is said to be improving, your support of diocesan and parish ministries is important and calls for sacrifice. I am confident that you will respond as best as you can out of love for God and commitment to His Mission. 

With every good wish, I remain…

Cordially yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Rockford

Download 2010 Diocesan Stewardship Brochure in English (in pdf)
Download 2010 Diocesan Stewardship Brochure in Spanish (in pdf)
Download 2010 Diocesan Stewardship Campaign Posters (in pdf)
Download 2010 Diocesan Stewardship Resource Manual (in pdf)
Download 2010 Diocesan Stewardship Newspaper Spread (in pdf)